South Korea confirms presidential election on June 3

South Korea's national flag (left) and a flag representing election authorities are seen in a photo taken near the National Election Commission headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. (Yonhap)

South Korea's Cabinet confirmed that an early presidential election would be held June 3, following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's ouster through parliament-led impeachment over his botched imposition of martial law last December.

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo approved the plan at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, as the Constitution stipulates that an early presidential election shall be held between 50 and 60 days after the sitting president's removal. Yoon was formally removed from his post on Friday, meaning the election would fall between May 24 and June 3.

Han has designated June 3 as an extraordinary holiday. He was to announce the date by no later than Monday next week.

Han said in the Cabinet meeting that he made the decision for the sake of the smooth execution of statutory affairs necessary for election management, as well as the time needed for political parties to prepare for the election. The government had consulted with the National Election Commission and other authorities prior to the determination, he added.

According to election authorities on Tuesday, a public official who intends to run for president must resign from his or her post by midnight of May 4. Following a two-day period during which presidential candidates register with election authorities, the campaigning period is set to begin May 12 and end June 2. Presidential debates taking place then will also be televised. The election poster board of presidential candidates will be displayed starting from May 14.

The polls will open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 3, following early in-person voting on May 29 and 30 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Polls for overseas voting will be open from May 20-25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, while shipboard voting will take place from May 26-29.

The winner of the June 3 election will begin his or her term as South Korea's president on June 4, without a transitional period.

Han at the Cabinet meeting urged the Interior Ministry and other related government bodies to closely cooperate with election authorities to strive for fairness and transparency in the upcoming election to restore people's trust. He stressed that elections are the foundation of a democratic society.

"Now is the time to quickly heal the wounds and gather strength for South Korea's leap forward," Han said.

Since the 1987 democratization that set up the single five-year term limit for presidents, South Korea had conventionally held presidential elections in mid-December, until the ouster of disgraced former President Park Geun-hye due to a broad corruption scandal in 2017.

With Park's ouster following a unanimous impeachment verdict at the Constitutional Court in March 2017, an early presidential election took place in May 2017, through which former President Moon Jae-in was elected and started his term the day after his victory.

The following and most recent presidential election took place on March 9, 2022, abiding by the Public Official Election Act. Yoon Suk Yeol at the time narrowly overcame current opposition leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung. Had Yoon completed his five-year term, the next election would have been held in March 2027.